Dubai acid-attack mom fights on for 10-month old baby

By

Sneha May Francis

PublishedMonday, May 07, 2012

Nilakshi Priyadarshana with her husband and child (SUPPLIED)

It’s been nearly two weeks since Sri Lankan Nilakshi Priyadarshana’s life came to a grinding halt. The 22-year-old suffered third-degree burns when a drain acid bottle that was placed on top of the fridge accidentally fell on her.

She has already undergone two skin grafting surgeries and is scheduled for one more this week. Her husband is unsure of how many more surgeries she will require for complete recovery. However, she is determined to fight it out and recover at the earliest for their 10-month-old baby.

The incident occurred on April 21, when Nilakshi was cleaning the kitchen, while her husband, Prasad, was playing with their 10-month-old in the corridor of their one-bed Karama apartment.

“I heard her screams and rushed inside to see her crying in pain. Her head, face, chest and left hand were severely burnt… even her T-shirt was burnt,” he recalled.

According to Roshini, project manager at Karama Kanteen, that’s part of Volunteer in Dubai, Prasad too suffered minor burns while trying to hold her during the trip to Rashid Hospital. “I did spot burns on his arms and he told me that even his clothes got burnt,” she added.

The acid bottle, which the couple had purchased to declog their kitchen drain six months ago, was initially placed in the balcony, but was shifted to the fridge top so that their baby couldn’t access it.

“The baby had some eye infection and the parents were asked to expose the child to sun light as part of the treatment. This is why they moved the bottle out of the balcony,” explained Roshini.

Although the paramedics arrived on the scene, within minutes after Prasad made the emergency call, Nilakshi’s skin was severely damaged by the time she was admitted to the burns unit in Rashid hospital.

Prasad, who works as an office boy on a monthly pay of Dh4,000, doesn’t have medical insurance to support her treatment and is struggling to gather funds to pay the room charges of Dh 150 per day, surgeries, doctors’ fee and medicines.

Nilakshi has already undergone two skin grafting surgeries and is scheduled for one more this week. Prasad, however, has not been handed any bill till now.

“The hospital staff said the bill will be ready after the treatment,” he said, adding he’s unsure about how many more surgeries will be needed for her complete recovery. He added that there’s also need for plastic surgery, but Prasad isn’t focusing on that just yet.

“I just want to her to be treated for the burns so that she can return home to our baby, who she was nursing until then,” he said.

Prasad’s mother has come in from Sri Lanka to help them, as Nilakshi lost both her parents to cancer. Despite being bandaged up and unable to speak, Roshini claimed that Nilakshi’s spirit remained undamaged. “She is determined to fight back and come out of this ordeal for the sake of her baby,” she reported.

An eight-year-old Indian boy who was constantly complaining of back pain and eye problems is now battling for life at Rashid Hospital, Dubai, while his family is seeking help to meet medical expenses.

Doctors were treating him for short sight and even increased the power of his lenses and prescribed medicines for back pain. Unfortunately the correct diagnosis came way too late for the child who is now in a critical state suffering from brain tumour.

The youngster's father, Sunil Kumar - an employee of Rich and Famous in Al Qouz - told 'Emirates24|7' that neurosurgeons have advised immediate surgery.

“Sourav is a third standard student of Indian High School Dubai. We never realised that he was suffering from such a serious ailment. He used to complain about severe back pain and eye problems and we consulted several doctors, who treated him for short sight. The power of his glass was enhanced recently, after we consulted a doctor in the city. In the last two months, he has been very weak and frequently vomited. We took him to a clinic, where he was treated for vomiting," said Kumar.

"Only a couple of days ago when the boy resumed severe vomiting and collapsed the family rushed him to Al Wasl Hospital, Dubai. Later a CT scan was done at Al Rashid Hospital and he was diagnosed with brain tumour."

The shocked and sad father said: “We could have diagnosed his disease earlier, had we took his back pain complaints more seriously. He told us that the backpain could be because he was carrying a heavy school bag.”

His mother Vijayalaxmi, housewife, is equally shaterred.

Kumar said: "My salary is just Dh4,800 of which Dh1,800 goes for rent to our flat International City. The rest of the salary spend for his education and our regular expenses plus the installment for a home loan of Rs4 million back home. Now we don’t have any money to pay Dh50,000 immediately for his treatment. His teachers from the Indian High School, Dubai have collected a small amount and gave us. We expect more help from the community.”

Souav's classmates and friends have also arranged a fund-raising campaign.

Immediate surgery is needed to remove the growing brain tumour and afterwards, he needs to undergo chemotherapy. “We cannot take him to India because doctors have adivised that he is not in a stage to travel. He is awake and conscious.

The family hails from Mariappally, Kottayam, Kerala. Those who wish to help the oy can contact teh family on 0505726096.

Chronically sick, debt-ridden kidney patient bailed out by Indian community

A chronically sick and debt ridden Indian expatriate living in Abu Dhabi for the last 14 years got a lease of life, thanks to the generosity of the Indian community members in the UAE who have responded to a humanitarian initiative launched by a Malayalam Radio Station in Dubai.

Khader Mon, 50, who has been working as a driver for the Mathanb Al Musaba General Transport in Abu Dhabi had lost hope in life as both his kidneys have been not functioning and was undergoing regular expensive dialysis.

Says Khader Mon, who has been jobless for the last ten months, due to his health conditions: “I have been a diabetic patient for the last ten years. All of a sudden my kidneys failed due to high blood pressure and I could not continue my job as a driver. I could work only two months after coming back from vacation last year.”

He said, a year ago, when he went to India for vacation, his small old house collapsed during heavy rains and he resorted to a bank loan of Dh50,000 to rebuild his house.

“I thought I will come back to Abu Dhabi and start repaying the loan at the rate of Dh1,000 per month, However, two months after coming back from vacation, I fell sick and could not continue my job or repay the loan, My company, friends and colleagues funded my food, accommodation and treatment for about five months, but they could not sustain it.”

“I got a great relief after an Indian Radio Station in Dubai, Radio Me, aired my grievances through their charity programme, Trust Me, and the programme anchor Leo Radhakrishnan, could bring in many philanthropists to help me. One Indian businessman donated money to repay my housing loan.

"The bank was preparing to take possession of my small house and five cents of land, the only asset I have made. My wife Rasia, 35 and three years old son are living there.”

Thanks to the Radio Station and the generosity of Indian community in the UAE, my family can peacefully live in the house, even if I die.”

He said that following the radio programme aired recently, Indian Rs 200000 was credited to his bank account by various listeners, who contributed small amounts like Dh500, Dh 1000 to Dh 35000. Kerala Social Center in Abu Dhabi too collected an amount for my treatment, but that is not enough to cover the kidney transplantation.”

Says Leo, the anchor of Trust Me, a Charity programme, on Radio Me, the new Malayalam FM station from Dubai Studio City: “Trust Me’ is airing such cases and issues of the less privileged Indian expatriates.

"Our first story was of Khader Mon, who suffers from kidney failure, severe financial burdens and helth hazards. We aired this particular case on our station, 100.3 for quite a while and were surprised by the response we got.

“The Indian cooperative bank waived his interest amount and Indian Rupees 4,50000 was paid by a noble listener who did not wish to reveal his identity. Indian Rupees 3,00000 was deposited in his and his wives bank account and about Dh 16000 was collected by the Kerala Social Center Abu Dhabi.”

“Now my friend Ibrahim is trying to find a kidney donor. Earlier plan was that my wife would donate her kidney in Group B to a kidney bank and get a kidney in A Group that suits my body.

"However, doctors have said my wife’s kidney is also not suitable as she suffers from kidney stone disease. To get a new kidney from a donor I would need Dh70,000 The fund collected through Radio Programme is not enough to cover the entire expenses and further treatment,” he said.

“Till I get kidney transplantation, I have to undergo three dialysis per week and it is free now in Abu Dhabi as I am using my insurance card. Once I am back in India, the dialysis will be very expensive and till I complete my kidney transplantation, I have to undergo regular dialysis. I hoped to go back to India by end of March 2012. I am thankful to the Indian community members who helped me to raise this much money and hope my problems would be solved soon.”